Apparatus for drawing glass.



Patent'd June I0, I1902.

2 Sheets-Sheefil.

No. 7n2,o|3

, `J. H. LUBBERS.

APPARATUS' FOB DRAWING GLASS.

. (Application med sepe.2e,19oo.) (No Model.)

No. 702,0ls. Patentedlune lo, |902.

J. H. LUBBERS. APPARATUS FOR DRAWING GLASS.

(Application filedusept. 28. 1900.)

(No Model.) 2 SheetsV-Sheet 2, y l

` i wrrNEssEs I u "lENQR A v\ mrnn Simms- PATENT" OFFIC JOHN LUBBERS, OF NEV KENSINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY

DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

TO JAMES A. CHAMBERS, TRUSTEE,

APPARATUS Foa DRAWING vGLASS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 702,013, dated une 10, 1902. Application filed September v28, Q. Serial No. 31,353. (No model.)

.To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. LUBBERS, of New Kensington, in the county of Westmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Appara tus for Drawing Glass, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to. the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- I Figure 1 is a side elevation, partlyin section, showing one form of my apparatus varranged for theformation of rollers or cylinders. Fig. 2 isapartial vertical section showing a modified arrangement of a furnace, and Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged detail vie-ws of the valve controlling the air-supply. Y

My invention relates to the drawing of glass articles from a bath of molten glass, and is designed to provide an apparatus therefor by which practical results may be obtained, both in the formation of cylinders and as to several of its features in the formationA of other glass'articles, such as sheets or other shapes which are not hollow.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one form of apparatus for drawing cylinders, I show in Fig. 1 a heatingchamber 2, containing a vertically-movablel trough or receptacle 3, of refractory material, carried on a plunger 4. This trough for the glass may be raised and lowered by a suitable lever 5, fulcrumed at 6 and having a roller '7, bearing upon the bottom Vof the plunger. The lever is provided with a suitable counterweight 8 and an operating link or handle 9, by which the trough may be raised to the position shownin full lines or lowered to that shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The chamber 2 is preferably located adj acent to a glasstank furnace 10, having an opening 11, through which the glass may be ladled from the furnace into the trough 3,3. large ladle being-preferably used,.which will convey enough glass for one roller, and the chamber 2 may be heated by a series of gas-burners 12, projecting thereinto, or by any other suitable `'means which can be properly regulated to retain the heat at the desired point. In the top of the chamber 2 is a hole which registers with the trough and in'which lits a watereration is completed the trough may belowcooled ring 13, having a supporting lateral flange which rests uponthe top or roof of the chamber. This ring is provided with suitable 'inlet and outlet pipes 14, by which a constant circulation of water can be maintained through its hollow interior, and the ring is movable, so that after the drawing opered and the ring removed, the top hole then 6o being closed'by a suitable cover. Thetrough may thus be kept heated during the intervals between the drawing operations.

I have shown lthe drawing apparatus proper as provided with a vertically-moving cross 65 head or frame 15, having rollers 16, which travel along suitable guideways on the ver-l yticalside supports 17. The lower portion of this frame is vprovided with an adjustable pipe-clamp 18, by which a blowpipe of any usual 4form may be secured vertically thereto, and I show this pipe as having enlargements 19, resting upon forks projecting from thev frame. Air is supplied tothe blowpipe l through a flexible .hose '2O and a swinging 75 pipe 21, pivoted at 22 and receiving an airsupply through pipe 23, extending from with= in a Vgasometer, 24.; A cord'25 is preferably secured to the swinging pipe 21, this cord eriL tending over pulleys 26A and being provided with a counterwei'ght 27. The cross-head 15 is moved vertically during the drawing operation bya rope 28, secured to it and extending over -pulley`29 to a windingdrum 30 on a shaft 31, driven by any suitable connections. 85.

I have found -in practice that in order to keep the cylinder of substantially uniform size itis important to control the air-supply, so as to regulate it according to the length of the cylinder being drawn, and that the supply of air should be slowly andgradually increased during the drawing` operation. To carry out this operation automatically, I provide the supply-pipe 23 with a regulatingcock 32, as shown in Figs; Sand 4. This cock contains a rotary hollow plug 33,having in its lower portionva large slot 34 and in its upper portion a shorter slot 35, Which is preferably of tapered shape, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. A comparatively large airsupply is thus afforded at the beginning of the operation, by which, after the neck 36 of the cylinder is formed, the glass will be blown out to the desired size of the cylinder, and thereafter as the cock is automatically turned the supply is gradually and slowly increased by the forward movement of the tapered slot. The movement of the valve is preferably effected by a connection with a moving element of the apparatus. Thus I show the projecting stem of the cock-plugas provided with a lever-arm 37, having a counterweight 38 and provided with a cord or rope 39, which extends to and winds upon a shaft 40. The cord is provided with a hook, which may be adjusted along the lever to vary the `movement as desired, and to adjust the valve to the desired point I provide a turnbuckle 4l in the cord 39. The shaft 40 is provided with a pulley or drum 42, upon which is wound another cord or rope 43, the other end of which is secured to the shaft 3l. By this connection as the cylinder is drawn upwardly the lever 37 is gradually lowered by the unwinding of the rope 39, allowing the counterweight to gradually open the valve. The pipe 23 is also provided with a hand-controlled throttle-valve 44, by which the supply of fluid is regulated according to the size of the cylinder, the temperature of the glass, dsc. The clamp 1S may be opened when the cylinder is drawn by a cord 45 within the reach of the operator.

In using my improved apparatus the trough 3 is heated and then lifted into the upper position. The water-cooled ring is then inserted in the opening of the chamber-top, and the requisite amount of glass is ladled from the furnace into the trough. A glass-blowers pipe is then provided with a ball of hot glass, and this ball is marvered so as to thin the bottom portion beneath the bell-shaped mouth of the pipe. This pipe is then secured to the cross-head by the clamp 18, with its bulb portions 19 resting on the forks, and lowered into the bath of glass in the trough. The shaft 30 then being actuated to lift the cross-head, the neck 36 is iirst formed by the upward drawing of the glass, and the cock then being automatically turned to give a largely-increased air-supply the glass is swelled out to the size of the desired cylinder or roller. The cross-head then continues its steady and uniform upward movement, and the air-supply is slowly and gradually increased to keep the cylinder of the same size, since any material fluctuation in the volume or pressure of the entering air or gas will of course cause iiuctuationin the size of the cylinder. I have found it ofthe greatest importance that the air pressure should be uniform and prefer to use a gasometer, such as shown, in order to secure this uniformity, though any other apparatus maybe used which will give a uniform airpressure throughout the blowing operation. NVhen the cylinderhas been drawn to the desired length, the lifting apparatus may be stopped, preferably by an automatic stop of any desired form, and the lower end of the cylinder is then detached from the glass of the bath. This latter step may be carriedout in many different ways; but I preferto shut off the air-supply and allow the flame or gases to reach the lower end of the cylinder. The step may also be carried out by merely shutting off the air, whereupon the contraction of the air within the cylinder will draw in its lower end and close it, leaving merelya cord connection with the glass of the bath, which can be severed by the attendant. In performing this step it is necessary to allow atmospheric air to enter the blowpipe after the lower end of the cylinder is contracted as desired, since the drawing inwardly and upwardly of the bottom of the cylinder will con tinue until air is again admitted at the top.' The severing in this manner leaves the glass in the trough in good condition for drawing another cylinder, since there is nothing retained in the glass-bath except the small cord connection, which will contact with the ball of glass of the next blowpipe and not injure the cylinder. The glass may, however, be detached in other ways, such as by shears or by admitting the heat to melt the connection. Vthen the lower end of the cylinder is thus detached, the pipe-clamp is then pulled open and the operator draws down on a cord 46, connected to pipe 21, and then releases it suddenly, so that the weight 27 will pull the Hexible pipe from the upper end of the blowpipe. The blowpipe and cylinder are then supported by means of a cord 47, secured to the pipe andextending over pulleys 4S and downwardly within reach of the operator. A fork or curved rod is then applied to the cylinder to swing it outward, and by lowering on the rope 47 the cylinder is thus laid horizontally upon a suitable support. The neck 36 or cap is then broken, and the cylinder or rolleris ready for the usual operations of cracking and dattening to form the sheet. In the meantime another heated blowpipe', with the ball of glass thereon, is secured to the cross-head, and the operation of blowing the next cylinder is proceeded with. A supply'of these blow-pipes may be kept heated in any convenient place adjacent to the drawing apparatus'. In the form of Fig. l the trough is lowered during any substantial intervals between the drawing operation to keep it atthe desired temperature and heat any glass remaining therein.

Instead of using a separate trough or receptacle into which the glass is ladled I may employ a receptacle which is connectedwith the bath of glass in the tank, so that the trough will be constantly supplied as the glass is drawn from it. Thus in Fig. 2 I show the heatingchamber 2 as provided with a stationary receptacle 3', having an extension connected to the wall of the tank-furnace lO, the hot glass resting at the same level as that in the tank and forming a shallow bath in the receptacle. In this case I preferably use a water-cooled ring 13 of much greater length than in thc :first form and also preferably use an annularrefractory shield 49, which surrounds the water cooled ring, both of .them

extending down to or Inearly to the level of .j

panding thel cylinder, and many changes the glass, so-as to shield the glass at the point where the article is drawn from -the surrounding heat. .The shielding of the glass at the point of drawing from any surrounding `heat is an important part ofmy invention,

since thereby Imaintain the proper consist-x ency or condition of the glass at the drawingpoint to enable the article to hold its shape.

This shielding may be carried out in different fways. Thus, for example, in the form of Fig.Y

l the shield consists of the sides of the pot, which vcut off the heat when the pot or receptacle is in the raised position. of Fig. 2 the depending shield performs this function, and I use the wordfshield in the claims in the broad sense to include any. device for preventing the access of heat .to the article being drawn, and Ivhave furtherdiscovered that the shield ,must be removed from the side or sides of the article a considerable distancein order to prevent the article from drawing against the shield.` .This distance must be' at least twoor three times the thick-` ness of the article being drawn, and, further,

vthe chilling of the glass should be carried out by radiation or convection from a coolingring and not by jets of air, as has been proposed hitherto, since the blasts of air will paratus for carrying out my method, al number of the troughs with drawingapparatus for each are preferably located around the tank-furnace so that one workman may at-x .tend to the drawing of several cylinders at the same time.

The advantages of my invention are alp-y parent, since'the use of themost expensive andskilful gradeof hand-labor is done away Y, with and glass, rollers or other glass articles produced automatically and mechanically.V

The forming of the neck at the end of '.the roller facilitates the severing of the roller from the pipe and simplifies the apparatus.

YThe shielding from the surrounding heat and in such a way that the shields do not touch the article is important, especially in the forehearth form of Fig.'2. The automatic control and regulation yof the air-supply con-. tributes to the effectiveness of the method: and apparatus, since iiuctuations arethereby avoided, which would cause waves or corrugationsirr the cylinder.` The. gradual increasing of the air-supply as the cylinder increases in length is important tokeep it'of substantialuniform size. The heating'ofthat body or portion of the general molten bath'- from which the article is being drawn is important, since by heating .this portion and chilling the glass adjacent to the pointiof drawand claimed is applicable to drawingother- In .the form1 yformsv ofl `glass than, cylinders-or hollow articlesthe same is included herein; -v

Otheriuids vthan air may beused forexmay be made in the apparatus ywithout departing from my invention.

I claiml. Apparatus for forming glassfcyliuders,

comprising ,a receptacle for molten glass,

means for heating thatvportion of the body'of y connected thereto, and vconnections for raising'and ylowering the bait; substantially as` described.

2.Apparatus for ormingglass cylinders,` comprising a receptacle for molten -glassya -source ofheat arranged to heatth'at portion of the body ofglassfrom whichthe cylinder is drawn,'a shield arranged to prevent access of the heat .to the exterior of the cylinder,- a

movablebait having a tluid-supplyconnection,` a'chilling-ring surrounding thecylin'der adjacent tothe drawing-point and arranged A to cool it by radiation, and means for applying a cooling medium to lsaidring; substantially asdescribed. .v

3. 'Apparatus for forming hollow glassarticles, comprising a receptacle for molten ,i

, glass, a drawing-tooh'an annular chilling-ring arrangedto surround the article adjacent to'V vIOC) the drawing-point and cool it4 by radiation,

means for cooling the ring, and anair-su'pply channel arranged tosupply air to the interior of the article `during the drawing operation;

substantially as described.

4., In glass-drawing apparatus, 'a hollow...

drawing-pipe connected to a source of ,iiuid scribed; Y i l y v 5. Inglass-drawing apparatus, a: hollow 'runder pressure, and mechanism for auto- Amatically regulating thefluid-'supply during' ythev drawing operation, substantially as de- '1ro Y l drawing-pipe connectedA to a source'of fluidk 7 .under pressure, a valve' controlling the fluid-f supply, and a connection with a moving element arrangedto automatically actuate1 the valveiduring thedrawing operation; 'substan-l tially as described. 1

6. In `apparatus forv drawing hollow glass articles, a receptacle for'molten glassjaver-h tically-movable frame thereo'ver,"a drawingf ,tool detachably fastenedto the frame andconnected toa source of jfluid under pressure, and a cooling-ring surrounding the article ad-j- VI z 5 jacent to the drawing-pointfand arranged to cool it rby radiation; substantially'as'described. f

7. In glass-drawing apparatus, aflieatin'gchamber, a glass-containing vessel v)with its -bottom portion within said chamber, and a fluid-cooled ring kabove ythe 'level of `the'glass in the vessel; substantially as described.

8. In glass-drawing apparatus, a receptacle for molten glass, a heating-chamber arranged l to heat the l'owei` part of the receptacle, an annular shielding device, and a water-cooled ring within the shielding device and arranged to cool the article by radiation; substantially as described.

9. In apparatus for forming hollow glass articles, a hollow drawing-tool connected to a source of fluid under pressure, a cooling-ring arranged to chill the outer surface of the ar-4 ticle by radiation adjacent to the drawingpoint, and means for applying a cooling medium to said ring; substantially as described.

l0. In glass-drawing apparatus, a hollow drawing-tool connected to a source of iiuid under pressure,ahollow ring arranged to chill the exterior of the article by radiation adjacent tothe drawing-point, and connections arranged to cause a How of cooling Huid through said hollow ring; substantially as described.

Il. In glass-drawing apparatus, a receptacle for molten glass, a movable bait, a fluidcooled chilling device arranged to chill the glass by radiation, a source of heat, and a refractory shield between the chilling device and said heat; substantially as described.

12. In glass-drawing apparatus, a tank-furnace having a forehearth extension, drawing apparatus above the glass in the extension, means for heating that part of the body of glass from which the article is drawn, and a shield arranged to shield the glass adjacent to the point of drawing, from the heat; substantially as described.

13. In glass-drawing apparatus, a tank-furnace having a forehearth extension, drawing apparatus above the glass in the extension, means for heating that part of the body of glass from which the article is drawn, ashield arranged to shield the article adjacent to the drawing-point from the heat, and a cooling device arranged to chill the article by radiation adjacent to the drawing-point; substantially as described.

14. In glass-drawing apparatus, a hollow fluid-cooled ring, and an annular shield surrounding the same; substantially as described.

15. In apparatus for forming hollow glass articles, a receptacle for molten glass, adrawing device, a duct arranged to supplya fluid to the interior of the article, a cooling-ring arranged to chill the outer face of the article by radiation around its circumference, and means for uniformly applying a cooling medium to said cooling device; substantially as described.

1G. In apparatus for forming hollow glass articles, a receptacle for molten glass, adrawing device above one part of the receptacle, means for heating that part of the body of glass from which the article is drawn, a duct arranged to supply a iiuid to the interior of the article, a cooling-ring arranged to chill the outer face of the article by radiation, around its circumference, and means for supplying a cooling medium to said ring; substantially as described.

17. In glass-drawing apparatus, a tank-fu rnace having a forehearth extension,appa'ratus for drawing glass upwardly from the extension and out of contact with any shapingsurface, and means for heating the glass in said extension; substantially as described.

18. Apparatus for forming glass articles comprising a receptacle for molten glass, means for heating that portion of the body of glass from which the article is drawn, a bait for drawing the article, means for shielding the article from the heat, and means for chilling the article by radiation adjacent to the drawing-point during its formation; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN II. LUBBERS.

Witnesses:

C. P. BYRNEs, y G. I. HoLDsHIP. 

